"Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work."- 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

The life of a Christian steward is lived as a disciple of Christ. As the U.S. Bishops point out in their pastoral letter on stewardship, “Following Jesus is the work of a lifetime. At every step forward, one is challenged to go further in accepting and loving God’s will. Being a disciple is not just something else to do, alongside many other things suitable for Christians, it is a total way of life and requires continuing conversion.” This is accomplished by personal accountability in our use of Time in Prayer, Talents, and Treasure. It means a day-by-day, moment-by-moment living out of these characteristics, particularly when it is most difficult to do so. Such a commitment may seem overwhelming at times if we rely solely on ourselves. The stewardship way of life teaches that we are capable of nothing on our own; and that is true especially when it comes to fulfilling this commitment to discipleship. Instead, it is made possible through the gift of God’s grace, which, in His love, He makes ever-present for us, so long as we ask for and respond to it.

Stewardship Prayer

Almighty and ever-faithful Lord,
gratefully acknowledging Your mercy
and humbly admitting our need,
we pledge our trust in You and each other.

Filled with desire,
we respond to Your call for discipleship
by shaping our lives in imitation of Christ.
We profess that the call requires us
to be stewards of Your gifts.
As stewards, we receive Your gifts gratefully,
cherish and tend them in a responsible manner,
share them in practice and love with others,
and return them with increase to the Lord.

We pledge to our ongoing formation as stewards
and our responsibility to call others to that same endeavor.
Almighty and ever-faithful God,
it is our fervent hope and prayer
that You who have begun this good work in us
will bring it to fulfillment in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen